Engaging with Nature
A project reconnecting people with nature to support their mental health and wellbeing in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Based on a successful project in West Berkshire, Engaging with Nature has been launched in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Engaging with Nature is a project with two aims:
- To help people connect with nature for a positive impact on individuals’ and communities’ health and wellbeing.
- To empower communities to improve and create space for wildlife.
Working with local partner organisations and charities, the project delivers sessions using the principles of the five pathways to nature connection for a positive impact on participants' wellbeing. The project focuses on underserved communities, reaching people whose circumstances mean that they are more vulnerable to poor mental health, unemployment and/or isolation.
Gillian making seed bombs at The Paul Bevan Wellbeing Centre, Thames Hospice, Maidenhead. Picture by Jacqui Banks, Volunteer
The five pathways to nature connection
- Contact
- Beauty
- Meaning
- Emotion
- Compassion
Univ. of Derby 2017
How the project works
Seasonal sessions (three weeks per quarter) are delivered to a regular cohort at four partner organisations or charities per year, at their home base. Sessions improve participants’ wellbeing through nature connection and enabling them to help wildlife with activities such as:
- planting pollinator beds and areas of wetland
- building and situating hedgehog houses, bird and bat boxes
- making feeders for birds and butterflies
- eco-art and nature photography
- encouraging awareness of local flora and fauna through bug hunts, nature walks, pond dipping, and bird, tree or wildflower identification.
Engaging with Nature addresses the need to reconnect people with nature to support their wellbeing, alongside the need to regreen and improve our urban spaces in the face of nature and climate emergencies.
Benefits for participants
Improved wellbeing and personal resilience in underserved communities, including:
- improved mood and increased relaxation
- reduced feelings of stress and/or anxiety
- improved physical health through increased activity
- peer support and new social connections through shared activities with a team.
Kath, Pen, Sheelagh, Gillian and Angela enjoying some eco art with their cuppa at the Wellbeing Centre, Thames Hospice. Picture by Jacqui Banks, Volunteer
Benefits for nature
Improved spaces for nature in urban areas, including:
- regreening, increasing biodiversity and new habitat creation
- increased access to nature and nature connection in urban spaces
- awareness and action; more people taking direct action for nature, and increased local awareness of nature.
A pollinator bed planted by BBOWT and Graham, a Thames Hospice volunteer, for patients to enjoy in front of the Wellbeing Centre. Picture by Clare Hegarty
In the longer term, the project will have a lasting legacy where participants feel encouraged and confident to continue with rewilding activities in their local spaces. Re-greened spaces will benefit not only participants but the wider community.
One of the greatest achievements of the project is seeing the positive benefits felt by participants, even after a short period of time. Here is some of their feedback:
“It’s fantastic to have something to bring the boys to over the school holidays, I’ve managed to get them off their Xboxes this morning and out in the fresh air.”
Katie, Joey and Charlie’s mum, The Autism Group
“We work with vulnerable families from a wide sector of society including many different ethnicities and it has been wonderful to see how the leader, Clare, engages them all in nature. Many of the children live in flats so the outside world of nature is alien to them but the pleasure on their faces and the conversations we have had as a result of the sessions are really heartwarming.”
Tamsin Phipps MBE, Operations Manager, Re:Charge
“Like all charities, we are suffering in this economic climate. Your project has enabled sessions that add a completely different dimension to our normal activities. To see the smiles on patients’ faces when they look out of the window at the new pollinator bed, or join you to walk down to the lake, has us all looking forward to the next session.”
David Boyce, Day Therapies Team Leader, Thames Hospice
“I’ve been a keen gardener all my life, the pollinator bed brings back so many good memories. I’ve taken the plaques we made to celebrate the garden home to varnish, they should last a long time now outside.”
Frank, a day patient at Thames Hospice
“If I had a penny for everything we've learnt about nature I'd be able to buy the moon. This kind of stuff helps me forget about all the stress of autism.”
Matthew Webb, member of The Autism Group
Photo gallery
Children and teenagers making bee hotels as part of BBOWT's Engaging with Nature project with The Autism Group in Maidenhead. Picture: Pete Hughes
Bark rubbing with The Autism Group
Sheelagh and Penny identifying wildflowers for Hapa Zome (Japanese leaf art) at The Paul Bevan Wellbeing Centre, Thames Hospice, Maidenhead. Picture by Clare Hegarty
A plaque made to celebrate the BBOWT and Thames Hospice collaboration by Stephan, a patient at The Paul Bevan Wellbeing Centre. Picture by Clare Hegarty
Our project partners
Funding
With thanks to The Climate Partnership, an alliance of businesses, charities, and community groups working together to achieve a sustainable future for Windsor and Maidenhead.